Boxer Imane Khelif has faced a slew of hate online after her gender was questioned at this year’s Olympics, but she’s adamant she’s worked hard to get where she is now.
When Khelif won against Italy’s Angela Carini on 1 August in just 46 seconds, it seemed like she was on a mission to reach gold - but her gender has since caused a host of issues when it emerged she was previously disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing gender eligibility tests.
However, little do people know that she has dreamt of being where she is today since she was a little girl in a rural village.
Who is Imane Khelif?
Khelif is a 24-year-old boxing champion who grew up in a rural village in Tiaret Province, in northwestern Algeria.
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At 16, she managed to get into in football in her village where the boys would pick fights with her.
Being able to dodge those punches is what gave her a knack for boxing.
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How did she get into the sport?
After finding her passion in football, Khelif decided that boxing was her dream. But she didn't find it easy.
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She travelled for training each week to the next village, which was 10 kilometres (about six miles) away, and spent money for the bus each time.
However, she did have to overcome one major challenge.
Speaking to the BBC earlier this year, she expressed how her father ‘did not approve of girls boxing’.
Because he wasn’t happy with her chosen sport, he refused to help her with transport, making her journey all the more difficult.
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The pair worked extensively to make sure she could attend her training, despite her father's opinion on the matter.
Khelif took to selling scrap metal instead and her mother chipped in by selling couscous to help raise the funds for bus into the town so she could get her training in.
What is the controversy surrounding her gender?
Khelif’s match against Carini proved to be a major blow to the champion, who has had a lot of accusations thrown her way in regards to her gender.
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Her fight against Italy's Carini ended after just 46 seconds when she tapped out, with the Italian breaking down in tears.
The gender test that was carried out to Khelif by the International Boxing Association has claimed that Khelif had XY chromosomes, which are associated with biological men, as well as having high levels of testosterone.
What was her journey to the Olympics?
Just three years after scrimping by to raise money for her bus fee, she was 19 years old and competing at the 2018 World Championships in New Delhi, where Khelif came 17th.
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She then represented Algeria at the 2019 World Championships in Russia, coming 33rd.
Now, she is competing in the Olympics Games in France and is about to play against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori.
In an interview in the UNICEF office, she explained: “I started with nothing and now I have everything. Both my parents come to support me. They are my biggest fans.”
Speaking about becoming the UNICEF ambassador for Algeria, she said: “I am deeply honored to be an ambassador for UNICEF. My message to young people is to follow your dreams. Don’t let obstacles come in your way, resist any obstacles and overcome them. My dream is to win a gold medal.
"If I win, mothers and fathers can see how far their children can go. I particularly want to inspire girls and children who are disadvantaged in Algeria.”
Topics: News, Olympics, Sport, Imane Khelif
Britt Jones